How an elderly man fought insomnia and anxiety

By Abhishek Sharma

Have you ever felt the need to take sleeping pills after turning 60?

One man who did so is Mr. Hukam Chand Sharma, an 81-year-old retired official from the UP-Government’s Jal Nigam (Water Corporation). “I turned to sleeping pills after retiring, and continued taking them for long,” says Mr Sharma candidly.

But why did he do so? Mr Sharma blames it on old age stress and anxiety.

He also shares his formula for beating the urge to consume sleeping pills. This includes visiting ‘tirth sthals’, or spiritual places, like Haridwar, Rishikesh, Ujjain and Somnath, whenever he feels low and helpless.

Brisk walks, having a heartfelt conversation with his grandchildren or just spending time in their company, picking and dropping them at school, participating in fun games with them, also helped him lower his anxiety levels.

Another way he managed anxiety is through breathing exercises. ‘Anulom-vilom’ (alternate nostril breathing) is his favourite. He also chants ‘om’ during the day and reads Hanuman Chalisa before sleeping.

He says his family is his greatest source of strength and support, and gives the example of his grandsons, Yug (19) and Adi (22) who played a key role in his recovery after the traumatic tracheostomy surgery in which he lost his speech.

WhatsApp and Zoom calls have also helped him in bridging gaps. “I now stay connected with my family and friends through video calls,” Mr. Sharma says with a smile.

“Also, let’s not forget my friends,” he adds with a twinkle in his eye.  “They offer me good company. We go out for morning and evening walks in the neighbourhood park. We also visit the library to read, chat and discuss local, national and other important issues. They motivate me to break the age barrier,” he says.

Mr Sharma firmly believes that age is just a number and there is nothing like growing old. “It’s just becoming more experienced and nuanced, in terms of understanding the complicated human behaviour.”

According to him, “The best way to stay beat stress in old age is by being social and active.”

(The writer is a first-year student of media at KCC Institutes in Greater Noida.)

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